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Imagine craving dirt so badly you can’t stop eating it. Or feeling an unstoppable urge to pull out your own hair, even when it leaves painful bald spots. These aren’t just bad habits—they’re real medical conditions recognized by doctors worldwide. Some addictions are so bizarre they sound made up, but science confirms they’re painfully real.
Pica (Eating Non-Food Items)
Pica makes people eat things like chalk, soap, or even metal. It’s not just kids putting random objects in their mouths—adults suffer too, sometimes needing surgery when sharp items tear their insides. Doctors link it to iron deficiency or extreme stress, but some cases remain a mystery. One woman famously ate an entire airplane—not in one sitting, but piece by piece over years. The disorder can be deadly if someone consumes toxic substances like lead paint. Treatment often involves therapy and nutritional supplements to curb cravings.
Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder)
This isn’t about nervously twirling a strand of hair—it’s ripping it out until scalp sores form. Many sufferers hide bald patches with hats or wigs, terrified others will notice. The relief they feel while pulling is followed by crushing shame. Some even eat the hair, which can form giant clumps in their stomachs requiring surgery. Celebrities like Olivia Munn have opened up about struggling with it. Therapists use habit-reversal training to help patients recognize triggers.
Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder)
Picture scratching a mosquito bite until it bleeds—now imagine doing that to every inch of your body. People pick until their skin looks like a war zone, risking dangerous infections. One patient described it as “being trapped in a loop I can’t escape.” Stress makes it worse, but boredom can trigger episodes too. Bandages and gloves sometimes help, but the urge often wins. Cognitive behavioral therapy has shown promise in breaking the cycle.
Onychophagia (Chronic Nail Biting)
Nails bitten down to bloody stubs aren’t just unsightly—they’re gateways for serious infections. Some chew until their fingertips swell with pus-filled abscesses. The habit often starts in childhood and follows people into adulthood unnoticed. Dentists see cracked teeth from years of subconscious gnawing. Bitter nail polishes backfire when sufferers get used to the taste. Hypnosis and fidget toys help some regain control.
Exercise Addiction
Running on a broken foot or lifting weights with torn muscles isn’t dedication—it’s illness. Gym addicts cancel weddings to attend spin class and lose jobs from overtraining. Their bodies scream for rest, but their brains demand more endorphins. Relationships crumble when partners become second priority to workouts. Ironically, their obsession destroys the health they’re trying to improve. Intervention sometimes requires banning them from gyms entirely.
Tanning Addiction (Tanorexia)
Skin cancer warnings don’t stop tanorexics from baking daily under UV rays. Tanning beds release opioids in their brains, creating a literal high. Some sneak into salons multiple times a day, lying about previous visits. Their leathery skin ages decades prematurely, but mirrors only show “not dark enough.” Therapists compare quitting to heroin withdrawal—shaking, nausea, and depression included.
Shopping Addiction (Oniomania)
Maxed-out credit cards and secret storage units full of unwrapped purchases define this crisis. The thrill of buying fades instantly, leaving only regret and empty bank accounts. One woman’s family staged an intervention after she spent $80,000 on cat sweaters—she didn’t even own a cat. Bankruptcy courts see these cases often, yet the stigma prevents many from seeking help.
Plastic Surgery Addiction
No amount of procedures satisfies those convinced they’re hideous. Lips inflated to bursting, cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass—some faces become unrecognizable. Surgeons report patients demanding dangerous back-to-back operations against medical advice. The root cause is usually body dysmorphia, not vanity. Aftercare involves intense therapy to halt the self-destructive cycle.
These conditions prove addiction isn’t just about drugs or alcohol—it’s any behavior that hijacks the brain’s reward system. Would you recognize these in yourself or someone you love?
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
